Method for cleaning cutlery or cutlery parts, cutlery holder for holding cutlery to be cleaned in a dishwasher, and dishwasher

ABSTRACT

A method for cleaning cutlery or cutlery parts, wherein the method includes the method step of filling a cutlery holder with the cutlery to be cleaned, the method step of treating the cutlery to be cleaned with a washing liquid, and the method step of treating the washed cutlery with a clear rinsing liquid. The cutlery holder is filled with the cutlery to be cleaned such that the individual cutlery parts are movable relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder, wherein at least during clear rinsing and preferably also during washing, the cutlery parts are moved at least once and preferably several times relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder in order to avoid static contact points between the individual cutlery parts and/or between the cutlery parts and the cutlery holder. A corresponding cutlery holder, and a dishwasher are also provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the technical field of commercial rinsing.

Specifically, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method for cleaning cutlery or cutlery parts which are held by a cutlery holder.

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a corresponding cutlery holder for holding cutlery to be cleaned in a dishwasher, and to a corresponding dishwasher, in particular commercial crockery or utensil dishwasher, which is configured as a batch dishwasher with a treatment chamber or as a continuous transport dishwasher with at least one treatment zone and which is designed to receive at least one cutlery holder in order to correspondingly clean the cutlery held by the cutlery holder.

BACKGROUND

Batch dishwashers are manually loadable and unloadable dishwashers. The batch dishwashers may be dish-rack-type pass-through dishwashers, also referred to as hood-type dishwashers or front loaders. Front loaders may be undercounter machines, countertop machines or free-standing dishwashers with front loading configuration.

A dishwasher configured as a batch dishwasher normally has a treatment chamber for the cleaning of items of washware. In general, under the treatment chamber, there is arranged a wash tank, in particular a single wash tank, into which liquid can flow back from the treatment chamber under the force of gravity. For this reason, batch dishwashers are also occasionally referred to as “single tank dishwashers”.

In the commonly single wash tank of a batch dishwasher, there is situated washing liquid, commonly water, to which detergents may be added if appropriate.

A dishwasher configured as a batch dishwasher furthermore has a wash system with a wash pump, with a line system connected to the wash pump, and with a plurality of spray nozzles formed on at least one wash arm. The washing liquid situated in the wash tank can, by way of the wash pump, be delivered by way of the line system to the spray nozzles and sprayed through the spray nozzles in the treatment chamber onto the items of washware to be cleaned. The sprayed washing liquid subsequently flows back into the wash tank.

Continuous transport dishwashers are in particular flight-type dishwashers or rack-conveyor dishwashers. Continuous transport dishwashers are commonly used in the commercial sector. In contrast to batch dishwashers, in which the items of washware to be cleaned remain positionally fixed in the machine during the cleaning, in continuous transport dishwashers, the items of washware are conveyed through various treatment zones of the continuous transport dishwasher.

A continuous transport dishwasher normally has at least one pre-washing zone and also at least one main washing zone which is arranged downstream of the pre-washing zone(s) as seen in the conveying direction of the items of washware. As seen in the conveying direction, downstream of the main washing zone(s), there is generally arranged at least one post-washing zone and at least one final rinsing zone, in particular a fresh-water final rinsing zone, which is connected downstream of the post-washing zone. As seen in the conveying direction, the items of washware which are either held directly on a conveyor belt or retained by racks typically run, in the conveying direction, through an inlet tunnel, the subsequent pre-washing zone(s), main washing zone(s), post-washing zone(s), final rinsing zone(s) and a drying zone into an outlet section.

The aforementioned washing zones of the continuous transport dishwasher are each assigned a wash system which has a wash pump and a line system connected to the wash pump, said line system being used to supply liquid to the spray nozzles of the washing zone. The washing liquid supplied to the spray nozzles is sprayed in the respective washing zone onto the items of washware, which are conveyed by a conveying device of the continuous transport dishwasher through the respective washing zones. Each washing zone is assigned a tank, in which sprayed liquid is held and/or in which liquid for the spray nozzles of the relevant zone is provided.

In the continuous transport dishwashers known typically from the prior art, final rinsing liquid in the form of fresh water, which can be pure or admixed with further additives, such as, for example, rinsing agents, is sprayed onto the items of washware by way of the spray nozzles of the final rinsing zone. At least some of the sprayed final rinsing liquid is conveyed from zone to zone, counter to the conveying direction of the items of washware, by way of a cascade system.

The sprayed final rinsing liquid is collected in a tank (post-wash tank) of the post-washing zone, from which tank it is delivered to the spray nozzles (post-washing nozzles) of the post-washing zone by way of the wash pump of the wash system which is part of the post-washing zone. In the post-washing zone, washing liquid is rinsed off from the items of washware. The liquid accrued here flows into the wash tank of the at least one main washing zone, which is connected upstream of the post-washing zone as seen in the conveying direction of the items of washware. Here, the liquid is typically provided with a detergent and sprayed, by a pump system (wash pump) which is part of the wash system of the main washing zone, by way of the nozzles (washing nozzles) onto items of washware. If no further main washing zone is provided, the liquid subsequently flows from the wash tank of the main washing zone into the pre-wash tank of the pre-washing zone. The liquid in the pre-wash tank is sprayed, by way of a pump system which is part of the wash system of the pre-washing zone, by way of the pre-washing nozzles of the pre-washing zone onto the items of washware in order to remove coarse contaminants from the items of washware.

Irrespective of whether the dishwasher is configured as a batch dishwasher or as a continuous transport dishwasher, the proper cleaning and drying of cutlery or cutlery parts in the dishwasher is increasingly challenging, particularly in the commercial sector. For instance, it has been determined for example in the context of customer surveys that cutlery parts account for up to 4% of the workload in commercial sculleries. The largest part of this work effort involves polishing and drying the cutlery parts. Reasons for the high polishing and manual drying outlay include, primarily, the residual moisture on the cutlery but also salt and detergent residues.

Further causes for the formation of spots and streaks on the cleaned and dried cutlery parts may include an unsatisfactory water quality.

To improve the rinsing result, in particular of cutlery parts, it is already known from commercial rinsing practice to improve the quality of the water used during the fresh-water final rinsing operation by using an osmosis water filtration system, thus preventing the formation of spots on cutlery parts as a result of salts and minerals dissolved in the water.

Even if a corresponding water treatment system is employed for the water used for the fresh-water final rinsing, it is generally not possible to achieve an optimum cleaning result for cutlery parts. The reason for this is that, for the cleaning of cutlery parts, said cutlery parts are supplied to the dishwasher, with said cutlery parts being held in cutlery holders. However, the cutlery holders known from the prior art are considered to be disadvantageous in relation to the avoidance of disruptive contact points between the cutlery parts and between the cutlery parts and the cutlery holder. Use is generally made of flat baskets or cutlery compartments as cutlery holders.

The so-called “flat baskets” are basically in the form of a large-surface-area rack-like carrying device with a base part for horizontally carrying cutlery parts, said base part being enclosed by a surround which prevents the cutlery parts from sliding off from the base part. In the case of said flat baskets, the cutlery parts are arranged horizontally in arbitrary fashion on the base part. In other words, the cutlery parts are scattered randomly and in some cases one above the other on the base part.

In contrast thereto, a cutlery holder known as a cutlery compartment has four high side walls along the peripheries of a base part, in order to orient the cutlery parts essentially vertically. A cutlery compartment thus has one or more deep cutlery racks in which in each case a plurality of cutlery parts can be held vertically (i.e. in an upright state). The vertical (upright) orientation of the cutlery achieved by the cutlery compartments reduces the quantity of moisture adhering to the cutlery in comparison with the orientation which can be realized with the flat basket. It is also the case that the number and type of contact points between the cutlery parts is improved by the known cutlery compartments, and this results in the adhering moisture being reduced further.

It is considered to be a problem of the cutlery holders known from the prior art that the number and type of contact points between the cutlery parts and between said cutlery parts and the holder itself entail disadvantages in respect of the overall cleaning result that can be achieved, as a result of which additional manual polishing and/or post-treatment steps are necessarily required.

SUMMARY

On account of these problems, the present invention is based on the object of specifying a method for cleaning cutlery or cutlery parts, with which method it is possible to achieve a more optimum cleaning result overall. In particular, at the end of the cleaning process, the intention is for the cleaned cutlery to be as streak-free and as spot-free as possible, without additional manual polishing and post-treatment steps.

Furthermore, the intention is to specify a cutlery holder, by means of which it is possible to optimize the overall achievable cleaning result of cutlery parts.

In addition, an object of the present invention consists in specifying a dishwasher, in particular commercial crockery or utensil dishwasher, which is configured as a batch dishwasher with a treatment chamber or as a continuous transport dishwasher with at least one treatment zone and which is designed to treat cutlery parts with an optimized cleaning result.

The object on which the invention is based is achieved, with regard to the method, by the subject matter of independent patent claim 1, with regard to the cutlery holder, by the subject matter of independent patent claim 6 and, with regard to the dishwasher, by the subject matter of further independent patent claim 11, with developments of the invention advantageously being specified in the corresponding dependent claims.

Accordingly, the invention relates in particular to a method for cleaning cutlery or cutlery parts, with a cutlery holder, for example a cutlery holder which is configured as a flat basket or as a cutlery compartment, initially being filled with the cutlery to be cleaned or with the cutlery parts to be cleaned.

The cutlery to be cleaned is subsequently treated with a washing liquid. This takes place for example during a washing phase in the treatment chamber of a dishwasher configured as a batch dishwasher or in one of the washing zones of a dishwasher configured as a continuous transport dishwasher.

After the cutlery or the cutlery parts have been treated with the washing liquid (during the washing phase or in at least one washing zone), the washed cutlery is finally rinsed with fresh water or a final rinsing liquid. This takes place for example during a final rinsing phase in the case of a dishwasher configured as a batch dishwasher or in at least one final rinsing zone, in particular a fresh-water final rinsing zone, of a dishwasher embodied as a continuous transport dishwasher.

According to embodiments, the finally rinsed cutlery or the finally rinsed cutlery parts can subsequently be dried, for example during a drying phase in the treatment chamber of the dishwasher configured as a batch dishwasher or in at least one drying zone of a dishwasher embodied as a continuous transport dishwasher. The drying of the finally rinsed cutlery or the finally rinsed cutlery parts, said drying being optionally provided herein, can be effected, for example, with in particular heated air. As an alternative thereto, the drying is effected passively, that is to say on account of the amount of heat introduced into the cutlery during final rinsing, for example.

According to the invention, provision is made, in the first method step relating to the filling of the cutlery holder, for the cutlery holder to be filled with the cutlery to be cleaned or with the cutlery parts to be cleaned such that the individual cutlery parts are movable relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder.

In other words, according to the invention, the cutlery to be cleaned is not fixed by the cutlery holder, as is the case, for example, with cutlery drawers, which are employed in particular in domestic dishwashers and in which the cutlery parts are arranged, and fixed, horizontally.

Furthermore, according to the invention, provision is made, at least during final rinsing and preferably also during washing, for the cutlery parts to be moved at least once relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder in order to thereby avoid, or at least reduce, static contact points between the individual cutlery parts and/or between the cutlery parts and the cutlery holder.

In this case, the invention is based on the finding that, during the conventional cleaning of cutlery or cutlery parts, the static contact points between the cutlery parts and/or between the cutlery parts and the cutlery holder represent a (major) cause for unsatisfactory cleaning results. In particular, at contact points, no or at least incomplete rinsing off of the washing liquid solution and/or of the final rinsing liquid is achieved during the fresh-water final rinsing phase or in the fresh-water final rinsing zone. Consequently, after drying, spots remain on the surface of the cutlery parts, said spots being produced from constituent parts of washing liquid solution and post-rinsing water. The greater the loading of the cutlery holder, the more contact points arise and also the greater the size of the contact surfaces.

The term “contact points” used herein is understood to mean punctiform, linear or areal contacts between the cutlery parts or between the cutlery parts and the cutlery holder.

In practice, this means that, with the conventional methods and conventional cutlery holders, it is virtually impossible to clean cutlery parts without contact points. Thus, a perfect cleaning result, that is to say a cleaning result completely devoid of spots and streaks, is not possible according to the prior art; however, this would be required in eating and drinking establishments, which put emphasis on a perfect cutlery result. Consequently, it has hitherto been customary for such eating and drinking establishments to also manually polish the cutlery after a completed automatic cleaning cycle, which represents a considerable additional expenditure of time (depending on the amount of cutlery, up to several hours per day). This is also not ideal in hygiene terms, since the moist dish towels or polishing cloths that are generally used can represent a source of germs.

With the present invention and in particular with the method according to the invention, said deficits can be eliminated in an easily realizable, but nevertheless effective, way. By, firstly, the cutlery parts to be cleaned deliberately being held “loosely” by the cutlery holder, that is to say being held by the cutlery holder in such a way that the cutlery parts to be cleaned can move relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder, and by, secondly, at least during the (fresh-water) final rinsing operation and preferably also during the washing operation and/or during an optionally provided drying operation, the cutlery parts being moved at least once and preferably continuously or cyclically relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder, it is possible to effectively prevent static contact points between the individual cutlery parts and the cutlery holder. The direct result thereof is that it is possible to achieve perfect (fresh-water) final rinsing results and overall perfect cleaning results, since the main cause for spot or streak formation is eliminated as a result of the avoidance of static contact points.

For the deliberate moving of the cutlery parts relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder, various approaches are suitable:

According to embodiments of the present invention, the cutlery parts are moved relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder in that a mechanical impulse is applied to the cutlery parts and/or to the cutlery holder, at least once (and preferably continuously or cyclically). As a result, the cutlery parts are at least briefly accelerated and their position relative to each other or their position relative to the cutlery holder is changed, such that static contact points are effectively prevented. Here, it should be borne in mind that the mechanical impulse to be applied to the cutlery parts and/or the cutlery holder does not need to be so great that the adhesion force of any water droplets adhering to the cutlery parts is overcome, since the application of the mechanical impulse is primarily used to change the position of the cutlery parts relative to each other or with respect to the cutlery holder, in order to thus avoid static contact points.

As an alternative or in addition thereto, it is conceivable that, to move the cutlery parts (and thus to avoid static contact points), the cutlery holder is tilted or swiveled relative to the horizontal, wherein the cutlery parts move relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder under the force of gravity acting on the cutlery parts.

A further approach for moving the cutlery parts relative to each other and relative to the cutlery holder consists in applying a magnetic field at least once, in particular for a short period or cyclically, the magnetic field being selected in such a way that the cutlery parts move relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder because of the magnetic force acting on the cutlery parts and/or on the cutlery holder.

According to developments of the method according to the invention, provision is made, at least during drying, for the cutlery parts to be accelerated and/or moved such that a centrifugal force acting on any water droplets adhering to the cutlery parts is at least partially greater than the adhesion force with which the water droplets adhere to the cutlery part.

In other words, according to this development, the cutlery parts can, for example during the drying operation, be set in rotation in such a way that at least some of the water droplets adhering to the cutlery parts are detached because of the acting centrifugal force.

As an alternative or in addition to a rotating movement of the cutlery parts, it is however also conceivable to apply a shaking or vibratory movement to the cutlery parts in order to “shake off” at least some of the water droplets adhering to the cutlery parts.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the latter relates to an optimized cutlery holder for holding cutlery to be cleaned in a dishwasher, wherein the cutlery holder is configured to hold the cutlery to be cleaned such that the individual cutlery parts are movable relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder.

In particular, in this context, it is conceivable that the cutlery holder comprises a pulse generator, or that a pulse generator is assigned to the cutlery holder, which pulse generator is configured to apply mechanical impulses, as required, continuously, periodically or cyclically, to the cutlery holder and/or to any cutlery which may be held by the cutlery holder such that the cutlery parts which may be held by the cutlery holder move relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder, in order to thereby avoid static contact points between the cutlery parts which may be held in the cutlery holder or between the cutlery parts and the cutlery holder.

In a preferred realization of the cutlery holder according to the invention, provision is made for the pulse generator, which is part of the cutlery holder or which is assigned to the cutlery holder, to be configured in particular as a piezo-electric oscillation exciter, an ultrasound exciter or a mechanical imbalance motor.

As an alternative or in addition thereto, it is conceivable that an electric motor, such as, for example, a stepper motor, is assigned to the cutlery holder, the cutlery holder being able to be rotated with a cyclically changing rotation direction by means of the electric motor. It is advantageous here for the changes in (rotation) direction to be effected as abruptly as possible so that high acceleration forces act for a short period on the cutlery parts held in the cutlery holder, and therefore the cutlery parts which may be held by the cutlery holder move relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder because of the acceleration forces acting on the cutlery parts. In this way, it is also possible to effectively prevent static contact points between the cutlery parts and between the cutlery parts and the cutlery holder.

As an alternative or in addition thereto, it is conceivable that the cutlery holder has a tilt or swivel device, or that a tilt or swivel device is assigned to the cutlery holder, which tilt or swivel device is configured to tilt or swivel the cutlery holder relative to the horizontal as required such that the cutlery parts which may be held by the cutlery holder move relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder under the force of gravity acting on the cutlery parts. In this way, it is also possible to effectively prevent static contact points between the cutlery parts and between the cutlery parts and the cutlery holder.

As an alternative or in addition to such a tilt or swivel device, it is conceivable that the cutlery holder comprises a drive, or that a drive is assigned to the cutlery holder, which drive is configured to accelerate and/or move any cutlery parts held by the cutlery holder such that a centrifugal force acting on any water droplets adhering to the cutlery parts is at least partially greater than the adhesion force with which the water droplets adhere to the cutlery parts.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the latter relates to a dishwasher, in particular commercial crockery or utensil dishwasher, which is configured as a batch dishwasher with a treatment chamber or as a continuous transport dishwasher with at least one treatment zone.

According to the invention, provision is in particular made for the dishwasher to comprise at least one cutlery holder, which can be received, or is received, at least partially and/or in regions in the treatment chamber or in the at least one treatment zone and which can hold, or holds, the cutlery parts to be treated in the dishwasher.

Furthermore, according to the invention, provision is made for the dishwasher to have a pulse generator which is assigned to the cutlery holder and/or a tilt or swivel device which is assigned to the cutlery holder and/or a drive which is assigned to the cutlery holder.

The pulse generator can comprise at least one oscillation exciter, which is configured in particular as a piezo-electric oscillation exciter, an ultrasound exciter or a mechanical imbalance motor. However, in this context, an electric motor, such as, for example, a stepper motor, which is assigned to the cutlery holder and which is configured/designed to rotate the cutlery holder with a cyclically changing rotation direction, or to move it in some other way, such that relatively high acceleration forces temporarily act on the cutlery parts held in the cutlery holder and thereby at least indirectly generate an impulse, would also be conceivable.

Irrespective of the specific realization of the pulse generator, the latter should be configured to apply at least one mechanical impulse and preferably a plurality of mechanical impulses, as required, cyclically or continuously, to the cutlery holder and/or to any cutlery which may be held by the cutlery holder such that, to avoid static contact points, the cutlery parts are moved relative to each other and in particular also relative to the cutlery holder.

The dishwasher according to the invention is in particular provided such that the latter is configured to tilt or swivel the cutlery holder relative to the horizontal as required such that the cutlery parts move relative to each other and in particular also relative to the cutlery holder under the force of gravity acting on the cutlery parts and thus avoid static contact points.

With regard to the drive which is assigned to the cutlery holder, provision is in particular made for said drive to be configured to accelerate and/or move any cutlery parts held by the cutlery holder such that a centrifugal force acting on any water droplets adhering to the cutlery parts is at least partially greater than the adhesion force with which the water droplets adhere to the cutlery parts.

In particular, in the dishwasher according to the invention, provision is made for the cutlery holder to be a cutlery holder of the type described above according to the invention.

Preferably, the cutlery holder can be exchangeably received in the treatment chamber or in the at least one treatment zone of the dishwasher, with a corresponding mount or similar device being able to be provided for this purpose in order to exchangeably receive the cutlery holder in the treatment chamber or in the at least one treatment zone of the dishwasher. By embodying the cutlery holder to be exchangeably receivable in the treatment chamber or in the at least one treatment zone of the dishwasher, it is possible to also use the cutlery holder to pre-soak the cutlery parts held by the cutlery holder in a pre-cleaning station.

In one realization of the dishwasher according to the invention, the latter is configured as a batch dishwasher, wherein a drive is integrated preferably completely in the treatment chamber of the dishwasher configured as a batch dishwasher, via which drive the cutlery holder is movable relative to the treatment chamber, in particular such that the cutlery parts which may be held by the cutlery holder are movable relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder.

As an alternative or in addition, the drive is configured to move the cutlery holder relative to the treatment chamber such that a centrifugal force acting on any water droplets adhering to the cutlery parts is at least partially greater than the adhesion force with which the water droplets adhere to the cutlery parts. By way of example, in this context, the drive can be configured to rotate the cutlery holder about a horizontal rotation axis, to swivel said cutlery holder about a vertical rotation axis, and/or to move said cutlery holder in linear fashion, relative to the treatment chamber in particular as required or in a continuous, periodic or cyclic manner.

According to preferred realizations of the dishwasher according to the invention, use is made of a magnetic drive or magnetic coupling, via which a drive integrated in the dishwasher can be actively connected to the cutlery holder being used as output in order to correspondingly move the cutlery holder.

By way of example, it is conceivable that at least one drive element is provided in the treatment chamber of the dishwasher or in the at least one treatment zone of the dishwasher and has for example a plurality of magnet poles, in particular permanent magnet poles, carried on a shaft that is rotatable relative to the treatment chamber or relative to the treatment zone. Furthermore, in this context, it is conceivable that the cutlery holder has a driven element, wherein said driven element can be actively connected to the drive element of the dishwasher as required, and in particular in a contact-free manner, via a magnetic coupling in order for at least a torque or a rotation force to be transmitted from the drive element to the driven element and to the cutlery holder.

In principle, with regard to the dishwasher according to the invention, it is advantageous for the pulse generator and/or the tilt or swivel device and/or the drive of the dishwasher to be actuated as required via a control device, in particular a control device of the dishwasher, in particular such that the pulse generator, the tilt or swivel device and/or the drive is/are activated during a drying phase or in a drying zone and/or during a final rinsing phase, in particular a fresh-water final rinsing phase, or in a final rinsing zone, in particular a fresh-water final rinsing zone.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a front view of a first exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, with the dishwasher being embodied as a hood-type dishwasher, and with the dishwasher being shown in the open state thereof in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 schematically shows a side view of the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 schematically shows a plan view of the drive unit, which is integrated in the treatment chamber of the dishwasher according to FIG. 1 and is configured to correspondingly manipulate a cutlery holder received in the treatment chamber of the dishwasher;

FIG. 4 schematically shows a front view of a further exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, with the dishwasher being embodied as an undercounter dishwasher, and being shown in an open state, in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 schematically shows a side view of the dishwasher according to the invention according to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 schematically shows a front view of the drive unit for manipulating a cutlery holder received in the treatment chamber of the dishwasher, said drive unit being used in the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention according to FIG. 4 and being integrated therein in the treatment chamber; and

FIG. 7 schematically shows a partially sectional view of the drive unit according to FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is the aim of the present invention, which is described in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, to eliminate the contact points between the cutlery parts held by the cutlery holder and between said cutlery parts and the cutlery holder itself, using a cutlery holder which is movable relative to the treatment chamber or to the at least one treatment zone of the dishwasher, by virtue of the fact that the movement of the cutlery holder during the cleaning and/or drying process continually changes the position of each individual cutlery part slightly, and there are consequently no longer any static contact points.

Rather, the contact points change continually during the cleaning and/or drying cycle. This ensures that the entire cutlery surface of each individual cutlery part, during the cleaning and/or drying cycle, is freely accessible, for example to washing liquid solution, final rinsing liquid and heated air for drying. As a result, it is possible to provide a spot-free, shiny result for the cutlery parts, with in particular manual work effort for manual polishing, or additional post-processing steps, being eliminated.

In the attached drawings, exemplary embodiments of the dishwasher according to the invention are illustrated schematically. These are commercial dishwashers, which are each configured as batch dishwashers.

Specifically, the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention, which embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, concerns a batch dishwasher which is embodied as a hood-type or (rack-type) pass-through dishwasher 1, whereas the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4 to FIG. 7 concerns a batch dishwasher which is embodied as an undercounter dishwasher 1.

A commercial dishwasher 1 embodied as a batch dishwasher usually has a program control device 11 for the control of at least one cleaning program, and has a treatment chamber 2, which can be closed by way of at least one door and/or at least one hood, in a machine housing for receiving items of washware to be cleaned, such as, for example, crockery, cutlery 4, pots, pans, trays and/or glasses.

Although not illustrated in the drawings, from an ergonomic point of view, it is advantageous for in particular a batch dishwasher embodied as a pass-through dishwasher 1 to be equipped, on the infeed and run-out sides thereof, with a respective table (infeed table and run-out table, respectively). The washing baskets loaded with soiled items of washware can thus be pushed into the dishwasher 1 on the infeed table. After the items of washware have been treated in the treatment chamber 2 of the dishwasher 1, the washing basket with the then cleaned items of washware is moved out of the machine onto the run-out table.

The action time, that is to say the time during which cleaning or washing liquid wets the items of washware within the treatment chamber 2 of a batch dishwasher, is dependent in particular on the duration of the washing phase defined by way of the treatment program. For normally soiled items of washware, such as plates, bowls, cups and/or glasses, a cleaning cycle composed of a washing phase and of a subsequent final rinsing phase generally requires between 50 and 100 seconds. However, longer treatment of the items of washware may be necessary, in particular if these are relatively heavily soiled.

The exemplary embodiments of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention which are shown in the drawings each have a cutlery holder 3 which can be received in the treatment chamber 2 of the dishwasher 1. In the exemplary embodiments, the cutlery holder 3 is configured as a cutlery compartment. In principle, however, it would also be conceivable that the cutlery holder 3 is configured as a flat basket.

The cutlery holder 3 is used to hold cutlery 4 to be cleaned in the treatment chamber 2 of the dishwasher 1. In this case, the cutlery holder 3 (cutlery compartment) is configured to hold the cutlery 4 to be cleaned in such a way that the individual cutlery parts 4 are movable relative to each other and in particular also relative to the cutlery holder 3 itself.

The exemplary embodiments of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention which are shown schematically in the drawings each have a drive 5, which can be received, or is received, preferably completely in the treatment chamber 2 of the dishwasher 1 and which is used to correspondingly drive a cutlery holder 3 which may be received in the treatment chamber 2. In particular, the drive 5 is configured to apply at least one mechanical impulse and preferably a plurality of mechanical impulses, as required, continuously, periodically or cyclically, to the cutlery holder 3 and thus also to the cutlery 4 held by the cutlery holder 3 such that the individual cutlery parts 4 held by the cutlery holder 3 are moved relative to each other and relative to the cutlery holder 3 itself, such that static contact points between the cutlery parts 4, but also between the cutlery parts 4 and the cutlery holder 3, are thereby effectively eliminated.

In particular, the drive 5 which is assigned to the cutlery holder 3 and which is preferably received in the treatment chamber 2 of the dishwasher 1 is configured to accelerate or move the cutlery holder 3 and thus the cutlery parts 4 held in the cutlery holder 3, as required, periodically, continuously or cyclically, such that any water droplets adhering to the cutlery parts 4 are detached from the cutlery parts 4 by centrifugal force.

As can be gathered from the illustration in FIG. 3, in the first exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention, provision is made for the drive 5 to be configured as a rotational drive, a corresponding spindle 7 being drivable by means of a motor, the spindle 7, in turn, driving a drive disk 9 in a rotating manner in the treatment chamber 2 of the dishwasher 1 by way of a mechanism 8. The cutlery holder 3 embodied in particular as a cutlery compartment can be (exchangeably) placed on said drive disk 9 in order to achieve an active connection between the drive 5, on the one hand, and the cutlery holder 3, on the other.

However, in this context, active connections between a drive 5 and an output and the cutlery holder 3 are of course also conceivable, said connections basically operating in a “contactless” manner for example by way of a magnetic coupling.

The drive unit used in FIG. 4 to FIG. 7 is a drive unit or a drive 5 which is embodied as a tilt or swivel device 10 and which is used to tilt or swivel the cutlery holder 3 relative to the horizontal as required, continuously, periodically or cyclically, such that the cutlery parts 4 held by the cutlery holder 3 move relative to each other and in particular also relative to the cutlery holder 3 under the force of gravity then acting on the cutlery parts 4, and therefore static contact points are also effectively eliminated thereby.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiments which are illustrated in the drawings, but rather results from an overview of all features disclosed herein.

In particular, in this context, it is conceivable that a pulse generator which is assigned to the cutlery holder 3 is arranged in the treatment chamber 2 or treatment zone of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention, in order to apply at least one mechanical impulse, as required, to the cutlery holder 3 to thus move the cutlery parts 4 held by the cutlery holder 3 relative to each other and in particular also relative to the cutlery holder 3 itself. The pulse generator can comprise for example an oscillation exciter, in particular a piezo-electric oscillation exciter, an ultrasound exciter or a mechanical imbalance motor.

As an alternative or in addition thereto, it is conceivable that an electric motor, such as, for example, a stepper motor, is assigned to the cutlery holder 3, the cutlery holder 3 being able to be rotated with a cyclically changing rotation direction by means of the electric motor. It is advantageous here for the changes in (rotation) direction to be effected as abruptly as possible so that high acceleration forces act for a short period on the cutlery parts held in the cutlery holder 3, and therefore the cutlery parts which may be held by the cutlery holder 3 move relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder 3 because of the acceleration forces acting on the cutlery parts.

In summary, the invention relates in particular to an, in particular, commercial dishwasher 1 for the rinsing or cleaning of different items of washware, said commercial dishwasher being configured as a single tank dishwasher 1 (batch dishwasher) or multi-tank dishwasher 1 (continuous transport dishwasher), a movable cutlery holder 3, in particular in the form of a cutlery rack, being located in the dishwasher 1 for the cleaning and/or drying of cutlery parts 4.

In particular, in this context, it is conceivable that the cutlery holder 3 (in particular cutlery rack) is movable in a rotating manner relative to the treatment chamber 2 or treatment zone of the dishwasher 1. As an alternative or in addition thereto, the cutlery holder 3 can also be movable in an oscillating manner. However, in principle, it is of course also conceivable that the cutlery holder 3 is movable in any other desirable movement relative to the treatment chamber 2 or to the treatment zone of the dishwasher 1 (for example horizontally, vertically, etc.).

In particular, the cutlery holder 3 can be moved with a change in direction by a suitable drive 5 of the dishwasher 1.

With regard to the cutlery holder 3, it is advantageous here for said holder to be a cutlery rack which is intrinsically as small as possible or has an as small as possible contact surface for cutlery parts 4.

The cutlery holder is preferably moved in such a way that water droplets detach from the the cutlery parts 4 on account of physical forces (centrifugal force, force of gravity, etc.), such that the drying is thereby supported.

In preferred realizations, the cutlery holder 3, together with a base frame which is assigned to the cutlery holder 3, can be preferably completely removed from the treatment chamber 2 or treatment zone of the dishwasher 1 so that other washing racks can also correspondingly be inserted.

The movement of the cutlery holder 3 during the cleaning and/or drying process can preferably be adjusted, and controlled, in a flexible manner, for example continuously or cyclically, with constant rotation speed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 Dishwasher 1     -   2 Treatment chamber 2     -   3 Cutlery holder 3     -   4 Cutlery parts 4     -   5 Drive 5     -   6 Bearing     -   7 Spindle 7     -   8 Mechanism     -   9 Drive disk     -   10 Tilt or swivel device 10     -   11 Control device 

1. Method for cleaning cutlery or cutlery parts, wherein the method comprises the following method steps: filling a cutlery holder with the cutlery to be cleaned; treating the cutlery to be cleaned with a washing liquid; and treating the washed cutlery with a clear rinsing liquid; wherein the cutlery holder is filled with the cutlery to be cleaned such that the individual cutlery parts are movable relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder, wherein at least during clear rinsing and also during washing, the cutlery parts are moved at least once relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder in order to avoid static contact points between the individual cutlery parts and/or between the cutlery parts and the cutlery holder.
 2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the cutlery parts are moved relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder via a mechanical impulse that is applied to the cutlery parts and/or to the cutlery holder, at least once.
 3. Method according to claim 1, wherein to move the cutlery parts, the cutlery holder is tilted or swivelled relative to the horizontal, and wherein the cutlery parts move relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder under the force of gravity acting on the cutlery parts.
 4. Method according to claim 1, wherein a magnetic field is applied to move the cutlery parts, and wherein the cutlery parts move relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder because of the magnetic field acting on the cutlery parts and/or on the cutlery holder.
 5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the method furthermore comprises the following method step, after the method step of clear rinsing: drying of the rinsed cutlery, wherein during drying, the cutlery parts are moved at least once relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder in order to avoid static contact points between the individual cutlery parts and/or between the cutlery parts and the cutlery holder; and/or wherein at least during drying, the cutlery parts are accelerated and/or moved such that a centrifugal force acting on any water droplets adhering to the cutlery parts is at least partially greater than the adhesion force with which the water droplets adhere to the cutlery parts.
 6. Cutlery holder for holding cutlery to be cleaned in a dishwasher, wherein the cutlery holder is configured to hold the cutlery to be cleaned such that the individual cutlery parts are movable relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder, wherein the cutlery holder comprises a pulse generator, or a pulse generator is assigned to the cutlery holder, wherein the pulse generator is configured to apply at least one mechanical impulse to the cutlery holder and/or to any cutlery which may be held by the cutlery holder such that, to avoid static contact points between the individual cutlery parts held in the cutlery holder or with the cutlery holder, the cutlery parts which may be held by the cutlery holder are movable at least once relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder.
 7. Cutlery holder according to claim 6, wherein the pulse generator comprises at least one oscillation exciter, wherein the oscillation exciter is configured as a piezo-electric oscillation exciter, an ultrasound exciter or a mechanical imbalance motor.
 8. Cutlery holder according to claim 6, wherein the cutlery holder has a tilt or swivel device, or a tilt or swivel device is assigned to the cutlery holder, wherein the tilt or swivel device is configured to tilt or swivel the cutlery holder relative to the horizontal such that the cutlery parts move relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder under the force of gravity acting on the cutlery parts.
 9. Cutlery holder according to claim 6, wherein the cutlery holder comprises a drive, or a drive is assigned to the cutlery holder, so as to accelerate and/or move any cutlery parts held by the cutlery holder such that a centrifugal force acting on any water droplets adhering to the cutlery parts is at least partially greater than the adhesion force with which the water droplets adhere to the cutlery parts; and/or that an electric motor is assigned to the cutlery holder such that the cutlery holder can be rotated with a cyclically changing rotation direction by means of the electric motor.
 10. Cutlery holder according to claim 6, wherein the cutlery holder is configured as a flat basket or as a cutlery compartment.
 11. Dishwasher, which is configured as a programmable machine with a treatment chamber or as a continuous transport dishwasher with at least one treatment zone, wherein the dishwasher comprises a cutlery holder, which can be exchangeably received at least partially and/or in regions in the treatment chamber or in the at least one treatment zone and which can hold cutlery to be treated in the dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher has at least one feature of the features listed below: (a) a pulse generator which is assigned to the cutlery holder and is configured to apply at least one mechanical impulse to the cutlery holder and/or to the cutlery which may be held by the cutlery holder such that, to avoid static contact points between the cutlery parts which may be held in the cutlery holder or with the cutlery holder, the cutlery parts which may be held by the cutlery holder are movable at least once relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder; (b) a tilt or swivel device which is assigned to the cutlery holder and is configured to tilt or swivel the cutlery holder relative to the horizontal such that the cutlery parts which may be held by the cutlery holder move relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder under the force of gravity acting on the cutlery parts; and/or (c) a drive which is assigned to the cutlery holder and is configured so as to accelerate and/or move the cutlery parts which may be held by the cutlery holder such that a centrifugal force acting on any water droplets adhering to the cutlery parts is at least partially greater than the adhesion force with which the water droplets adhere to the cutlery parts.
 12. (canceled)
 13. Dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the dishwasher is configured as a programmable machine, and wherein a drive is integrated completely in the treatment chamber of the dishwasher configured as a programmable machine, via which drive the cutlery holder is movable relative to the treatment chamber such that the cutlery parts which may be held by the cutlery holder are movable relative to each other and/or relative to the cutlery holder, and/or that a centrifugal force acting on any water droplets adhering to the cutlery parts is at least partially greater than the adhesion force with which the water droplets adhere to the cutlery parts, wherein the drive is configured to rotate the cutlery holder relative to the treatment chamber about a horizontal rotation axis, to swivel this about a vertical rotation axis, and/or move this in linear fashion as required.
 14. Dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein at least one drive element is provided in the treatment chamber or in the at least one treatment zone of the dishwasher and has a plurality of magnet poles carried on a shaft that is rotatable relative to the treatment chamber or treatment zone, and wherein the cutlery holder has a driven element, wherein the driven element is configured to be actively connected to the drive element as required via a magnetic coupling in order for a torque or rotation force to be transmitted from the drive element to the driven element and to the cutlery holder.
 15. Dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the pulse generator and/or the tilt or swivel device and/or the drive is configured to be actuated as required via a control device, such that the pulse generator and/or the tilt or swivel device and/or the drive is/are activated during a drying phase or in a drying zone and/or during a clear rinsing phase or in a clear rinsing zone, and/or during a washing phase or in a washing zone. 